Environmental Programs Managing Supervisor
- Summary
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a people-focused leader committed to using science to improve people’s lives and our environment. This job may be right for you if:- You excel at building and leading teams in which all kinds of people can do their best work.
- You thrive in a remote work setting.
- You are committed to act to bring about equitable outcomes for people.
- You excel at prioritizing, organizing, and managing work.
- You set clear expectations, providing support, and accountability.
- You negotiate effectively to get what you need while maintaining relationships.
About the Work
This leadership work, at the highest level, is focused on scientific credibility, employee wellbeing, productivity, process efficiency, financial acumen, and strategy. The job is dynamic and demanding, well-suited to someone that thrives in a fast-paced, intense setting. This person must possess a wide range of skills, providing socioemotional support to staff, to advising investments in environmental protection. It is relational, requiring coaching, team-building, interpersonal savvy, and socio-emotional competencies. It is also technical, requiring a scientific mindset and skills in managing and directing work, strategic prioritization, decision-making, and program management.
About the Organization
The Science and Technical Support Section is a Seattle-based team of more than 40 technical staff producing credible, applied science and technical guidance for the benefit of people and the environment. Our county is home to over 2.2 million people, a strong economy, and threatened species such as orca, salmon, and steelhead. The need for useful science is great and urgent.
To meet that need, we lead applied studies in environmental sciences, manage monitoring programs, deliver technical services to clients and collaborators, and inform evidence-based policies and regulations. We collaborate with the other County programs, the University of Washington, the Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Ecology, and Health, and many others. Learn more at our website.
The person in this position will supervise approximately 13 people specializing in disciplines ranging from fish and wildlife ecology to field hydrology. These people form a Unit called the Watershed Ecosystem Assessment Team or WEAT, one of three Units in the Science Section. The position reports to the Section Manager.
Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts. To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified applicants.
Permanent Teleworking Requirement
This position will be performed remotely but will require reporting in-person to a shared work space at a County worksite several days per month, or more as directed. On rare occasions the employee may be required to report to other locations in King County. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County offers a robust collection of tools and resources to support employees working remotely. In some situations, internet access may be supplemented.
Work Location: Primarily teleworking and the King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104.
Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. This full-time position works at minimum, a five-day, 40-hour work week. Weekend or evening work is rare but may occasionally be required.- Job Duties
- Supervise ecologists and field hydrologists supporting King County’s environmental mission and implementing strategic plans for King County environmental initiatives.
- Manage hiring, establish workplans, convene teams, delegate tasks, support upskilling, complete appraisals, address conflicts, and resolve disciplinary issues.
- Develop budgets, pursue funding, monitor/control expenditures, and assist staff in developing agreements and contracts with agencies and consultants.
- Provide technical expertise and scientific guidance to staff, ensuring services and deliverables meet requirements for scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
- Manage collaborative relationships with the internal and external client agencies as well as the King County Environmental Lab.
- Inform senior leaders, agencies, and elected officials on policies and regulations.
- Model and cultivate effective teamwork, so staff are supported, connected, and productive.
- Manage ambiguity and foster resilience amid shifting workplace norms and policies.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
The most competitive applicants have competencies in:
- Driving engagement and vision: Demonstrated success in motivating many kinds of direct reports, teams, or project members to action in pursuit of a shared goal or core purpose.
- Directing others: Demonstrated success establishing clear direction, setting stretch objectives, distributing workload appropriately, in a well-planned and organized manner to direct reports. Experience in a formal supervisory role with more than one employee, preferably in a remote work setting .
- Hiring and staffing: Experience as a hiring manager responsible for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding staff.
- Developing talent: Experience formally developing staff to reach personal and organizational goals
- Interpersonal savvy: Relating openly and working comfortably with people from a wide variety of cultures and communities. Experience establishing inclusion and belonging in a team.
- Courage and managing conflict: Mediated workplace conflict with courage and fairness, resulting in positive outcomes. Stepping up to address difficult issues with actionable corrective feedback.
- Strategic ability: Demonstrated success in anticipating future issues and trends to be able to create breakthrough strategies and plans based on a credible future vision. Successful track record of prioritizing tasks and work to respond to that strategy.
- Decision-making: Demonstrated success making good decisions based on a mixture of information despite uncertainty, risk, and disagreement.
- Functional/Technical skills: Knowledge, skills, and abilities in ecology, hydrology, or similar discipline—gained through a combination of education and experience—necessary to perform all the duties described in this job announcement.
- A track record of being engaged and impactful in Puget Sound salmon recovery efforts.
- Proficiency using plain language in science communications
- Experience reviewing study plans and technical reports or manuscripts that present scientific evidence and claims from subject matter experts.
- Designing, leading, and facilitating online agenda-based gatherings using interactive techniques.
- Supplemental Information
Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in two or more panel interviews. Applications without each of the following required materials may not be considered for this position. Resumes and cover letters exceeding one page will not be evaluated, nor will answers to supplemental questions that exceed the word limit.
- King County application
- Resume (Limited to one page)
- Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position (Limited to one page)
- Responses to supplemental questions
This position is not represented. This position is FLSA Exempt.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Calvin Rivers
Sr. Human Resources Analyst
206-263-1986
crivers@kingcounty.gov
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.
As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:- submit proof of vaccination, or
- have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No.
02If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff03in 250 words or less, explain why this position is appealing to you.04In 250 words or less, describe what contribution you would bring to help create and sustain a workplace environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive of equity and social justice.05Please verify that your resume and cover letter are limited to a single page each. Submittals longer than one page will not be evaluated.Required Question